Def Leppard enthralled London's prestigious Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday night (16th May 2023), despite playing not a single note. Appearing for a in-person discussion about their remarkable career centred around their just-release 'Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard' book, the five-piece proved just as engaging as raconteurs, as they are as rock stars.
Def Leppard discuss their new book Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard with Michael Hann at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. Photos by Pete Woodhead.
The event came during what is proving a particularly busy time for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. As well as a new album, 'Drastic Symphonies' (a symphonic reworking of some of their most well-known songs, as well as deeper cuts) due for release a few days later, and the aforementioned tome, the band are preparing to bring their hugely successful co-headlining tour with Mötley Crüe to Europe.
With this in mind, there was plenty to talk about. Lead by journalist and author Michael Hann, who revelled in guiding the band - founders Joe Elliott and Rick Savage; eonmusic interviewee Rick Allen, who joined the fledgling outfit in 1978; Phil Collen, who lent his leads to 1983’s ‘Pyromania’ and has remained ever since; and ‘new boy’ Vivian Campbell who has had a 31 year tenure - through their storied timeline.
Eschewing some of the more well-trodden tales in favour of deeper dives, as well as touching on their most important milestones, the night was a treat for the band’s biggest fans, some of whom had travelled from as far away as Mexico and New Zealand just to be there.
It was, of course, frontman Joe Elliott who held court for the majority of the evening, however Hann ensured that each of the members got their say, which made for a particularly engaging evening.
Going right back to their Sheffield beginnings, to a rehearsal room above a spoon factory, Elliott and bassist Rick Savage (who, according to the man himself has only been filling in on bass for four decades until they find a proper player!) brought to life the grit and determination of those humble beginnings that would, in less than a decade, lead to global superstardom.
With tales of sharing the cost of the weekly £5 rental fee for the rehearsal space to decorating it with band posters and purchasing a kettle and stereo to aid in their creativity, the warmness of those early years really shone through.
Putting some myths to bed - “people say that it was me, Sav and Steve Clarke that glued the covers to our debut EP together. Bollocks! Me and my mum did 90% of them! [Joe Elliott]” - as well as proving revelatory - guitarist Phil Collen could landed spots in both Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy - there really was something for even the most well-read Leppard aficionado as the night progressed.
With Allen proving hilarious with his interjections, Campbell revealing his insecurities over whether the band are actually going to fire him any day soon, to Elliott’s encyclopaedic knowledge of just about everything they have ever done, each of the five brought something unique to the evening.
Sticking around to greet fans and sign autographs after taking their bows, Def Leppard proved that though may be able to sell out stadiums around the world, they’re still as down to earth as the teenagers who struggled to pay for fish and chips on the way back from recording that first demo.
Def Leppard's 'DEFinitive: The Story of Def Leppard' is available now.
With this in mind, there was plenty to talk about. Lead by journalist and author Michael Hann, who revelled in guiding the band - founders Joe Elliott and Rick Savage; eonmusic interviewee Rick Allen, who joined the fledgling outfit in 1978; Phil Collen, who lent his leads to 1983’s ‘Pyromania’ and has remained ever since; and ‘new boy’ Vivian Campbell who has had a 31 year tenure - through their storied timeline.
Eschewing some of the more well-trodden tales in favour of deeper dives, as well as touching on their most important milestones, the night was a treat for the band’s biggest fans, some of whom had travelled from as far away as Mexico and New Zealand just to be there.
It was, of course, frontman Joe Elliott who held court for the majority of the evening, however Hann ensured that each of the members got their say, which made for a particularly engaging evening.
Going right back to their Sheffield beginnings, to a rehearsal room above a spoon factory, Elliott and bassist Rick Savage (who, according to the man himself has only been filling in on bass for four decades until they find a proper player!) brought to life the grit and determination of those humble beginnings that would, in less than a decade, lead to global superstardom.
With tales of sharing the cost of the weekly £5 rental fee for the rehearsal space to decorating it with band posters and purchasing a kettle and stereo to aid in their creativity, the warmness of those early years really shone through.
Putting some myths to bed - “people say that it was me, Sav and Steve Clarke that glued the covers to our debut EP together. Bollocks! Me and my mum did 90% of them! [Joe Elliott]” - as well as proving revelatory - guitarist Phil Collen could landed spots in both Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy - there really was something for even the most well-read Leppard aficionado as the night progressed.
With Allen proving hilarious with his interjections, Campbell revealing his insecurities over whether the band are actually going to fire him any day soon, to Elliott’s encyclopaedic knowledge of just about everything they have ever done, each of the five brought something unique to the evening.
Sticking around to greet fans and sign autographs after taking their bows, Def Leppard proved that though may be able to sell out stadiums around the world, they’re still as down to earth as the teenagers who struggled to pay for fish and chips on the way back from recording that first demo.
Def Leppard's 'DEFinitive: The Story of Def Leppard' is available now.
